Celtics’ Tindell caps stellar career with area’s 1st state title

Published: Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 29, 2013 at 8:06 p.m.

During her four-year career at Trinity Catholic High School, Tabitha Tindell experienced nearly every emotion imaginable on her journey to soccer stardom.

Facts

GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tabby Tindell: The Trinity Catholic senior striker scored 52 goals and passed out 27 assists to lead the Celtics to the first soccer state title in Marion County history. The Florida Gulf Coast signee also set the county mark for career goals with 160.
For first and second teams and honorable mention, see below.

The highs of being named the state’s top female player while setting a new Marion County record for career goals.

And the lows of a postseason injury that derailed her junior season, landing the rising senior in rehab a year ago.

But one lasting memory will outshine all the accolades and overshadow the painful pitfalls. And, fittingly, it came on the biggest stage of her career as she led the Celtics to the county’s first and only soccer state championship.

“I think it was like two minutes left in the game and I just looked around at my teammates and looked at the scoreboard and I just thought: no way are we gonna lose this,” recalled Tindell, citing the 4-1 lead Trinity held over Gulliver Prep in the closing minutes of the 2A state title match.

“That’s when it really dawned on me that we were gonna be state champions. The smile came and I couldn’t take it away. That was probably my favorite moment — just looking around and realizing what we did.”

What Tindell and her teammates did was put Ocala on the state’s soccer map. Trinity’s blitzkrieg offense produced 139 goals in 21 matches — an average of 6.62 per game — as the Celtics blazed a path to Melbourne behind veteran coach Blendhel Elias’ 4-3-3 attack.

Trinity, which ended the season with an official record of 20-2, was defeated only once — a 2-0 setback to 4A state semifinalist Fleming Island — despite being charged with another by way of forfeit due to a scheduling conflict.

Elias and the Celtics quickly avenged that “loss” to Mount Dora by whipping the Hurricanes 9-0 in just 40 minutes en route to their eighth straight district crown. Trinity shut out league foes on the season and allowed just seven goals total while playing a challenging non-district slate designed to have the Celtics playoff ready.

■ ■ ■

The state title was a culmination of Elias’ 24 years in the Ocala soccer ranks, where he quickly identified a young forward who could help get him there some seven years ago.

“When I first saw her (at Blessed Trinity) I knew — she has everything,” Elias said of a pre-teen Tindell. “When I look at other very good high school teams I cannot find anyone to compare her to. She is at the top. Some players have the speed without the ball, but she can do it all. She can win the ball and shield you because she’s very strong and skilled. She has the vision to turn and beat three defenders — easy.

“I’ve been watching the girls play for the past 12 years and, right now, Tabby is one of the best in the state. And she proved it.”

Tindell dominated the 2A state series, recording four hat tricks and scoring 15 total goals through five rounds of regional and state competition. Her three second-half goals against Gulliver Prep delivered the county’s lone soccer crown, and served notice that the talented player was fully recovered from a painful hip injury that knocked her out of the 2012 postseason.

But it was that adversity that helped Tindell push herself to new heights after realizing her soccer career could be stolen from her in a flash.

“It definitely made an impact on me,” she said. “Having to sit through it and not being able to do anything about it. If anything it just made me more determined, and the whole team more determined to really come back this year.”

A healthy Tindell shredded the record books and caught the attention of nearly every college scout across the state. She routinely competed against girls headed to big-name programs like the University of Florida and Florida State, but the state’s top player remained steadfast in her commitment to Florida Gulf Coast University, where she officially signed more than a month ago.

Elias said it was a matter of loyalty and comfort rather than a lack of options that delivered Ocala’s finest to the upstart Fort Myers program.

“UF was after her, Stetson was after her, USF was after her, (University of Tampa) called me so many times, I can’t tell you,” Elias said. “But (FGCU) was her choice. She could go to UF easy. Tabby can go anywhere.

“At the next level she’s gonna do the same. She’ll earn her spot and start right away. For me, she has a chance to play on the national team as a freshman.”

Tindell, who visited both UF and FSU, shrugs it off, comfortable in her decision to join a program that never wavered in their pursuit of her.

“I wanted to stay in Florida first of all,” Tindell explained. “When I visited Florida Gulf Coast the coaches were hilarious and they seemed really nice. I just fell in love with the school. I’m just really excited about it. I can’t wait.”

■ ■ ■

Elias and Trinity Catholic have one more honor in store for the two-time Star-Banner player of the year before she takes her finely-tuned game south. And it’s the first time Elias has done it during his 12 years at TCHS.

“I’m going to miss her; the school’s going to miss her,” Elias said. “So what we’re going to do for her is hang up her shirt. No. 3 will be retired. No one else will wear it.”

A perfect ending to a perfect season for an athlete who has done it all, including being named a finalist for Gatorade player of the year honors.

“It seemed like everything aligned itself so perfectly for this perfect season that we’ve had,” Tindell said. “Sometimes I just don’t have words … I don’t know how to explain it.”

<p>During her four-year career at Trinity Catholic High School, Tabitha Tindell experienced nearly every emotion imaginable on her journey to soccer stardom.</p><p>The highs of being named the state's top female player while setting a new Marion County record for career goals.</p><p>And the lows of a postseason injury that derailed her junior season, landing the rising senior in rehab a year ago.</p><p>But one lasting memory will outshine all the accolades and overshadow the painful pitfalls. And, fittingly, it came on the biggest stage of her career as she led the Celtics to the county's first and only soccer state championship.</p><p>“I think it was like two minutes left in the game and I just looked around at my teammates and looked at the scoreboard and I just thought: no way are we gonna lose this,” recalled Tindell, citing the 4-1 lead Trinity held over Gulliver Prep in the closing minutes of the 2A state title match. </p><p>“That's when it really dawned on me that we were gonna be state champions. The smile came and I couldn't take it away. That was probably my favorite moment — just looking around and realizing what we did.”</p><p>What Tindell and her teammates did was put Ocala on the state's soccer map. Trinity's blitzkrieg offense produced 139 goals in 21 matches — an average of 6.62 per game — as the Celtics blazed a path to Melbourne behind veteran coach Blendhel Elias' 4-3-3 attack.</p><p>Trinity, which ended the season with an official record of 20-2, was defeated only once — a 2-0 setback to 4A state semifinalist Fleming Island — despite being charged with another by way of forfeit due to a scheduling conflict.</p><p>Elias and the Celtics quickly avenged that “loss” to Mount Dora by whipping the Hurricanes 9-0 in just 40 minutes en route to their eighth straight district crown. Trinity shut out league foes on the season and allowed just seven goals total while playing a challenging non-district slate designed to have the Celtics playoff ready.</p><p>■ ■ ■</p><p>The state title was a culmination of Elias' 24 years in the Ocala soccer ranks, where he quickly identified a young forward who could help get him there some seven years ago.</p><p>“When I first saw her (at Blessed Trinity) I knew — she has everything,” Elias said of a pre-teen Tindell. “When I look at other very good high school teams I cannot find anyone to compare her to. She is at the top. Some players have the speed without the ball, but she can do it all. She can win the ball and shield you because she's very strong and skilled. She has the vision to turn and beat three defenders — easy. </p><p>“I've been watching the girls play for the past 12 years and, right now, Tabby is one of the best in the state. And she proved it.”</p><p>Tindell dominated the 2A state series, recording four hat tricks and scoring 15 total goals through five rounds of regional and state competition. Her three second-half goals against Gulliver Prep delivered the county's lone soccer crown, and served notice that the talented player was fully recovered from a painful hip injury that knocked her out of the 2012 postseason.</p><p>But it was that adversity that helped Tindell push herself to new heights after realizing her soccer career could be stolen from her in a flash.</p><p>“It definitely made an impact on me,” she said. “Having to sit through it and not being able to do anything about it. If anything it just made me more determined, and the whole team more determined to really come back this year.”</p><p>A healthy Tindell shredded the record books and caught the attention of nearly every college scout across the state. She routinely competed against girls headed to big-name programs like the University of Florida and Florida State, but the state's top player remained steadfast in her commitment to Florida Gulf Coast University, where she officially signed more than a month ago.</p><p>Elias said it was a matter of loyalty and comfort rather than a lack of options that delivered Ocala's finest to the upstart Fort Myers program.</p><p>“UF was after her, Stetson was after her, USF was after her, (University of Tampa) called me so many times, I can't tell you,” Elias said. “But (FGCU) was her choice. She could go to UF easy. Tabby can go anywhere. </p><p>“At the next level she's gonna do the same. She'll earn her spot and start right away. For me, she has a chance to play on the national team as a freshman.”</p><p>Tindell, who visited both UF and FSU, shrugs it off, comfortable in her decision to join a program that never wavered in their pursuit of her.</p><p>“I wanted to stay in Florida first of all,” Tindell explained. “When I visited Florida Gulf Coast the coaches were hilarious and they seemed really nice. I just fell in love with the school. I'm just really excited about it. I can't wait.”</p><p>■ ■ ■</p><p>Elias and Trinity Catholic have one more honor in store for the two-time Star-Banner player of the year before she takes her finely-tuned game south. And it's the first time Elias has done it during his 12 years at TCHS.</p><p>“I'm going to miss her; the school's going to miss her,” Elias said. “So what we're going to do for her is hang up her shirt. No. 3 will be retired. No one else will wear it.”</p><p>A perfect ending to a perfect season for an athlete who has done it all, including being named a finalist for Gatorade player of the year honors.</p><p>“It seemed like everything aligned itself so perfectly for this perfect season that we've had,” Tindell said. “Sometimes I just don't have words … I don't know how to explain it.”</p><p><blockquote style="border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px; background-color: #ccc;"><b>FIRST TEAM</p><p>Briana Camargo, Jr. Trinity:</b> Midfielder was quarterback of state champs; 20 goals, 25 assists</p><p><b>Ali Pritchard, Sr., Forest:</b> Team captain led the Wildcats with more than 100 career goals</p><p><b>Alyssa Eashoo, Jr., Trinity:</b> Finisher poured in 28 goals and added 10 assists for Celtics</p><p><b>Katie Chapman, Sr., Belleview:</b> Midfielder paced Rattlers with 11 goals, added 1 assist</p><p><b>Abigail Camargo, Jr., Trinity:</b> Versatile athlete was a weapon on both ends with 36 points</p><p><b>Ella Khan, Jr., Forest:</b> Center midfielder directed offense, led Wildcats in assists</p><p><b>Katherine Kelly, Jr., Trinity:</b> Sweeper was also an offensive threat with 11 goals, 4 assists</p><p><b>Hannah Jones, Jr., Belleview:</b> Rugged defender anchored Rattlers' back row; added 2 goals</p><p><b>Danielle Pinder, Sr., Trinity:</b> Anchored Celtic defense that allowed just 7 goals all season</p><p><b>Jennifer Vera, Jr., Vanguard:</b> Athletic front line player led the Knights in scoring</p><p><b>Sophie Putzeys, Fr., Forest:</b> Young scorer was a leader in goals and assists for 'Cats</p><p><b>Taylor Mosley, Sr., Trinity:</b> Keeper posted 33 saves; allowed just 7 goals on season</p><p><b>SECOND TEAM</p><p>Sydney Jimenez, So., Trinity:</b> Midfielder delivered 14 assists and scored 5 goals</p><p><b>Jessica Bonenclark, Fr., Belleview:</b> Young defender added 2 goals and 4 assists</p><p><b>Rachel Sorrentino, So., Forest:</b> Strong defensive force helped 'Cats to 15-4 record</p><p><b>Lindsey Pinder, So., Trinity:</b> Fullback was a physical defender for 2A state champs</p><p><b>Shelby Bursey, Sr., North Marion:</b> Led the Colts in every meaningful offensive category</p><p><b>Kayla Barrett, Sr., Lake Weir:</b> Midfielder started every match, posting 3 goals, 3 assists</p><p><b>Catherine Blaney, Sr., Belleview:</b> Midfielder scored 4 goals and passed out 5 assists</p><p><b>Nina Morges, Sr., Forest:</b> Center midfielder was co-captain and quarterback for Wildcats</p><p><b>Dorothy Hellmann, So., Trinity:</b> Passed out 8 assists, scored 2 goals from midfield spot</p><p><b>Alex Delorio, So., Belleview:</b> Led the Rattlers with 14 assists, ranked second with 8 goals</p><p><b>Samantha Horne, Sr., West Port:</b> Keeper represented the North in annual FACA all-star game</p><p><b>Kristin Reahm, Sr., Lake Weir:</b> Keeper recorded 83 saves; added 3 goals, 2 assists</p><p><b>HONORABLE MENTION</p><p>Belleview —</b> Makayla Episcopo; <b>Forest —</b> Rose Torres, Alex Stubblebine, Lainey Ressler, Nicole Chindamo; <b>Lake Weir —</b> Ashley Collins, Jade Jones; <b>Trinity —</b> Julia Gruber, Savannah Mitchell.</blockquote></p>